Building a Stronger Orange County by Supporting its Most Vulnerable Residents
The Priority Center provides tools, resources, and support for those facing abuse, neglect, trauma, and mental health struggles in Orange County.
Founded in 1983
Our History
Formerly known as the Child Abuse Prevention Center, our organization was founded in 1983 from a single volunteer-based parent-aide program.
Throughout the following decades, we grew to become a large, diverse, and talented organization employing more than 120 professional staff—two-thirds of whom provide direct services to children, their families, young adults, and adult clients.
In 2019, we became The Priority Center. This new name reflects our most fundamental mission: to prioritize our work, our community, and the people we serve through our programs, support, and resources.
Though our name had changed, the foundation on which we built our legacy did not. Our name supports the breadth of our programs and all those we have served for over 38 years and will continue to serve moving forward.
Our Mission
Our mission is to deliver life-changing programs to assist people in crisis by giving them the tools, resources, and support necessary to end the generational cycle of trauma, including prevention of child abuse and neglect, through early intervention and mental health services and advocacy. We are the starting point for those who don’t know where to go for the help they need.
Our Values
Although our name has changed, the foundation upon which we build our legacy has not. For more than 40 years, we have served Orange County’s most vulnerable. Our work is driven by our five core values.